Peter Senge Introduction to Systems Thinking [2:21]

Peter Senge Systems Thinking in a Digital World [41:29]

Cabrera Research Lab Systems Thinking: A Little Film About a Big Idea

Trevor Maber Rethinking Thinking – The Ladder of Inference [5:32]

Litmos Heroes Ladder of Inference [2:40]

Linda Vanasupa Systems Thinking - Causes of System Behavior - The Iceberg Analogy [4:51]

Learning Organizations and Systems Thinking

Leaders of complex organizations have historically attempted to use simplistic frameworks to manage what are inherently complex systems. Solutions, with the best of intentions, are often implemented too close to the problems. Short-term solutions combined with the lack of awareness or understanding of the natural interconnectedness of systems, often result in long-term non-solutions.

According to Peter Senge, (1990) learning organizations are:

"… organizations where people continually expand their capacity to create the results they truly desire, where new and expansive patterns of thinking are nurtured, where collective aspiration is set free, and where people are continually learning to see the whole together."

Schools and school systems are complex organizations.  

This resource provides an introduction to systems thinking and two 'tools' that support systems thinking in learning organizations, the Iceberg and the Ladder of Inference.